The Department-sponsored citywide "Spring Cleaning" recycling events, where New Yorkers were able to receive free, high-quality compost, recycle obsolete and unwanted electronic equipment and cell phones, and donate gently-used clothing in March, April, and May, proved to be extremely successful.

According to final tallies compiled by the Department's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling, more than 207 tons of electronic equipment, such as old non-functioning computers, TVs and cell phones, were recycled at the citywide events, the highest amount collected in one series of events to date.  This is compared to about 115 tons of electronic equipment collected during the 2007 "Spring Cleaning" events.  More than 12,000 New Yorkers attended this year's recycling events.

"These tremendously successful events prove, year after year, that New Yorkers are willing to recycle," said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty.  "Developing partnerships with electronics manufacturers and retailers has become an excellent way for us to help New Yorkers to recycle their unwanted electronics equipment and keep these items out of the city's waste stream."  Proceeds from cell phones collected during the events will benefit survivors of domestic violence through a program of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence and Verizon Wireless.

The events - - held in each borough - - were conducted with the assistance of Goodwill Industries; the NYC Compost Project, which includes the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Lower East Side Ecology Center, New York Botanical Garden, Queens Botanical Garden, and the Staten Island Botanical Garden; the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, and with support from Con Edison.

FINAL STATS

MANHATTAN
3,141 attendees   
47.35 tons of electronics   
19.38 tons of clothes  
521 lbs of cell phones

BRONX
2,135 attendees  
20.09 tons of electronics    
10.05 tons of clothes   
147 lbs of cell phones

STATEN ISLAND
3,464 attendees  
34.18 tons of electronics      
8.74 tons of clothes   
177 lbs of cell phones

QUEENS
2,054 attendees  
64.02 tons of electronics    
33.75 tons of clothes    
254 lbs of cell phones

BROOKLYN
1,373 attendees
41.52 tons of electronics         
20 tons of clothes    
147 lbs of cell phones

CITYWIDE TOTAL
12,167 attendees
207.16 tons of electronics  
91.91 tons of clothes      
1,246 lbs of cell phones